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Prayer Breakfast – A Poem to Honor the Charleston 9

On Wednesday, June 17th, nine warriors for the Lord were gunned down at historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the oldest Black American places of worship. Remember to always speak their names and lift up their families in prayer. Also, take action whenever you experience or witness racism. Speak up. Get engaged in your communities to stop the devastation of hate. We all have to do our part to eliminate hate and bias in the world. Whatever your gift or vocation is, use it.

The following poem was created to honor their memories.

PRAYER BREAKFAST

We gather together in his name

To honor, reflect, pray and sang

Oh how lovely is the day he brings

How lovely the day

Elders and youth study the truth

So that it penetrates, teaches and soothes

Oh how honored we are to learn

Oh how honored

We take these words of wisdom back to our communities

Spread them like seeds to nourish and create unity

Oh how we love to fellowship

Our hearts burst with fellowship

All are welcome in our midst

As we decipher & absorb our Lord’s bliss

All are welcome to this bliss

Sit among us and share in joy

We invite in all whether girl or boy

Come in and be one

Be one with us

We will dine together after this prayer

Then take in sweet sustenance prepared with care

Will you break bread with us

Will you

Oh no

The invited is broken

He will feast on us

Instead

Our blood

Now butter on the bread

Our living is now the dead

Will you now pray for our loved ones

And construct our eternal beds

Racial hatred has reared its ugly head

In this place of worship and calm

A devil has come and stolen the dawn

What will ye do now that peace is gone

What will ye do

If this poem touched your heart, please consider making a donation to the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church to help the families bury their loved ones and to also let them know their pain is acknowledged.

Comments (9 Responses)

I think this is exactly something that needs to be told. the fact that you even can be such a guest. How the shame doesn’t eat you, but just maybe hate has changed something deep within.. maybe it’s all those buildup of simple racism that has grown within his heart to something dark… It can just be condemned but I hope that all those that might have been part in building the hardness he had within understand that they are responsible.. actually we had a similar case in Norway a few years ago.. so many similarities with his racism and Breivik’s

Thanks for your comment Bjorn. Racism is taught and learned and amplified if given dirt to sprout and grow in. Shameful. So many lives were transformed after this crime. I just hope the families and friends of the nine beautiful souls can get some peace and justice one day.

Really not an easy topic as you pointed out yesterday.
I was reading a conversation about it on huffington post
last night. It was really crazy actually. I don’t know if you
saw the shooting in philadelphia yesterday. Its a hard world
we live in when taking the life of others is so easy.

I view them as martyrs with a warm welcoming embrace by the God they loved and to whom they witnessed. And their families give such a beautiful example of forgiveness. To think they welcomed that sick man into their community. So many lessons.